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2010 Ford Focus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Ford Focus are lower than the model-year median of 864.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

249 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports4 fire reports16 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

11 reports
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120,000 miles · Jan 21, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling

I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE 120K SERVICE. THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. A WEEK LATER I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND ASKED THEM THE CHECK A YELLOW CRUSTING UNDER THE DASHBOARD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FOOTWELL. THEY DID AND SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS OR WHAT WOULD CAUSE IT. A WEEK LATER WE NOTICED A SMELL IN THE CABIN. THE CAR WAS…

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I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE 120K SERVICE. THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. A WEEK LATER I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND ASKED THEM THE CHECK A YELLOW CRUSTING UNDER THE DASHBOARD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FOOTWELL. THEY DID AND SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS OR WHAT WOULD CAUSE IT. A WEEK LATER WE NOTICED A SMELL IN THE CABIN. THE CAR WAS NOW 3 YEARS OLD AND WE HAD A SIMILAR SMELL 18 MONTHS PRIOR THAT COST US $1800 TO REPLACE THE AC CORE. SURELY THIS COULD NOT BE ANOTHER AC CORE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THEM AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG...EVEN THE SMELL HAD GONE. I TOOK THE CAR AND ON THE WAY HOME I NOTICED THE CAR WAS BEGINNING TO OVERHEAT...FORD WAS ALREADY CLOSED. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE RADIATOR. I TOPPED IT UP AND IT TOOK A GALLON OF WATER. I WATCHED THE LEVEL FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT DIDN'T MOVE. I DROVE HOME OK AND RECHECKED THE RADIATOR...SAME LEVEL. IT DROVE THE FOLLOWING DAY OK TOO. THEN IN THE EVENING I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING HOT AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70MPH AND IT SUDDENLY CUT THE POWER ON THE ENGINE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND HAD TO DODGE TRAFFIC TO COAST TO A HALT ON THE SHOULDER WITH THE ENGINE AT IDLE SPEED AND NO POWER. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT WAS FLOORED, BUT THE ENGINE PRODUCED NO POWER WHATSOEVER...DIDN'T EVEN REV HIGH. WHEN I CHECKED THE RADIATOR AGAIN IT WAS VERY LOW AND TOOK ANOTHER GALLON OF WATER. I MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME AGAIN BUT NEITHER THE AC NOR THE HEATER WOULD WORK. WE ALSO NOTICED THE CARPET IN THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL WAS NOW WET AND THE SMELL WAS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THE HEATER CORE WAS THE PROBLEM AND HAD CUT THE POWER TO THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING AND TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. IT COST ME ANOTHER $1800 FOR THE HEATER CORE AND THE CARPET TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676916

62,000 miles · Jan 21, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling

I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS 60K SERVICE AT APPROX 62K. ALL WAS OK. ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER I NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL IN THE CABIN. I PUT IT DOWN TO WHATEVER CHEMICALS THEY USED ON THE 60K SERVICE. ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER THE SMELL WAS GETTING WORSE, BUT ALSO THE AC WASN'T COOLING LIKE IT USED TO AND MY THEN 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER PASSED O…

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I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS 60K SERVICE AT APPROX 62K. ALL WAS OK. ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER I NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL IN THE CABIN. I PUT IT DOWN TO WHATEVER CHEMICALS THEY USED ON THE 60K SERVICE. ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER THE SMELL WAS GETTING WORSE, BUT ALSO THE AC WASN'T COOLING LIKE IT USED TO AND MY THEN 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER PASSED OUT IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE SMELL. I TOOK IT TO FORD AS THE INCIDENT HAPPENED STRAIGHT AFTER THE SERVICE AND THEY SAID NOTHING THEY DID WOULD HAVE CAUSED IT, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THE AC CORE AND THE SMELL WAS PAG OIL. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FREON IN THE AC SYSTEM. THEY RECHARGED THE SYSTEM AFTER CHECKING FOR LEAKS AND NOT FINDING ANY. A WEEK LATER (TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INITIAL SERVICE) THE AC WAS NOT COOLING AGAIN. IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING FORD DID...AGAIN THERE WAS NO FREON IN THE SYSTEM. THEY GAVE ME THE SAME STORY AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1800 TO GET IT FIXED...WHY SHOULD I PAY $1800 ON A CAR THAT'S 18 MONTHS OLD? WELL, BECAUSE I NEEDED THE AC IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER AND ITS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE. I COMPLAINED TO FORD DIRECTLY ASKED THEM TO PAY HALF THE COST AND THEY SAID I WAS "NOT USING THE AC CORRECTLY" AND AS SUCH WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO FORD AND THEY SHOWED ME THE "CORRECT WAY TO USE THE AC"...THE SAME WAY I USE THE AC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676901

22,000 miles · Mar 11, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

NOT PROVIDED BY FORD CABIN AIR FILTER BENEFITS A CABIN AIR FILTER IS AN AIR PURIFICATION FILTER, SOMETIMES CALLED A ?MICRO CABIN AIR FILTER? OR "IN-CABIN MICROFILTER,"DESIGNED TO REMOVE THE MICROSCOPIC DUST, ALLERGENS, POLLUTANTS AND OTHER PARTICLES THAT COME INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN OF YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH ITS AIR VENTS. IN A…

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NOT PROVIDED BY FORD CABIN AIR FILTER BENEFITS A CABIN AIR FILTER IS AN AIR PURIFICATION FILTER, SOMETIMES CALLED A ?MICRO CABIN AIR FILTER? OR "IN-CABIN MICROFILTER,"DESIGNED TO REMOVE THE MICROSCOPIC DUST, ALLERGENS, POLLUTANTS AND OTHER PARTICLES THAT COME INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN OF YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH ITS AIR VENTS. IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE AIR IN THE INTERIOR OF YOUR CAR UNPLEASANT AND UNHEALTHY, A DIRTY CABIN AIR FILTER, CLOGGED WITH DIRT, DUST, SMELLY MOLD AND ALLERGENS, CAN ALSO IMPACT THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR DEFROSTER, HEATING AND AC, AND HEALTH HAZARDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568637

49,000 miles · Sep 17, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling

WOULD LOSE RPM'S AT IDLE AND ALMOST STALL. WENT TO DEALERSHIP (NO HELP), COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BECAUSE NO CODES, EVEN THOUGH ENGINE WAS STILL IDLING RUFF FOR THEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT HAPPY THAT I BROUGHT THE CAR IN BEFORE 50,000 MILES, STATING I SHOULDN'T NEED TUNE-UP TIL THIS MILEAGE. WENT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC (CERTIFIED) …

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WOULD LOSE RPM'S AT IDLE AND ALMOST STALL. WENT TO DEALERSHIP (NO HELP), COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BECAUSE NO CODES, EVEN THOUGH ENGINE WAS STILL IDLING RUFF FOR THEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT HAPPY THAT I BROUGHT THE CAR IN BEFORE 50,000 MILES, STATING I SHOULDN'T NEED TUNE-UP TIL THIS MILEAGE. WENT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC (CERTIFIED) WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING, AGAIN NO CODES. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO DATE. GOING TO MECHANIC FOR IDLE SENSOR REPLACEMENT, HOPING THIS WILL HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543972

43,648 miles · Apr 23, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF NOR SHIFTED INTO PARK FOLLOWING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF NOR SHIFTED INTO PARK FOLLOWING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WHO RULED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION WIRES HAD TO BE CUT TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,648.

NHTSA ODI #10456081

19,500 miles · Sep 5, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 9/1/2011 AT ABOUT 3:00 PM. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND WEATHER WAS DRY AND SUNNY. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 3 TO 4 HOURS WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN. WHILE DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IN OHIO ON I-75 SOUTHBOUND JUST SOUTH OF MILE MARKER 99 THE CAR STARTED BEHAVING LIKE I WAS OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAS…

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THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 9/1/2011 AT ABOUT 3:00 PM. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND WEATHER WAS DRY AND SUNNY. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 3 TO 4 HOURS WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN. WHILE DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IN OHIO ON I-75 SOUTHBOUND JUST SOUTH OF MILE MARKER 99 THE CAR STARTED BEHAVING LIKE I WAS OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAST A HALF TANK LEFT. IT STARTED TO STALL AS I PULLED IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS I GOT IT STOPPED I NOTICED SMOKE/STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD LATCH INSIDE THE CAR BUT WAS UNABLE TO. MY WIFE AND I EXITED THE CAR AND WENT TO THE FRONT WHERE SHE NOTICED IT WAS ON FIRE. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 FOR HELP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OHIO STATE TROOPERS ARRIVED AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AS THE FIRE COMPLETELY ENGULFED THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER MODIFIED FROM STOCK AND WAS MAINTAINED AS REQUIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423808

12,000 miles · Aug 5, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO DRIVE AS NORMAL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SENSOR FAILURE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO DRIVE AS NORMAL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SENSOR FAILURE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #10417698

25,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WIRING WAS EXPOSED AND WOULD CAUSE THE THIRD CYLINDER TO MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WIRING WAS EXPOSED AND WOULD CAUSE THE THIRD CYLINDER TO MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE THIRD CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING WAS CHEWED BY A RODENT, RESULTING IN THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE EXPOSED WIRING. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED THAT IT WAS UP TO THE DEALER WHETHER OR NOT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #10415197

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

FOUR WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2010 FORD FOCUS, I TURNED ON THE A/C AND TO MY SURPRISE THE A/C NEVER GOT COLD. I HAD IT RUNNING FOR 20 MINUTES BUT IT NEVER GOT COLD. THE NEXT DAY CALLED AND TOOK THE CAR TO BE CHECKED OUT, THEY KEPT IT TWO DAYS AND HAD ME COME PICK IT UP SAYING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INVESTIGATE. THE NEXT DAY I…

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FOUR WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2010 FORD FOCUS, I TURNED ON THE A/C AND TO MY SURPRISE THE A/C NEVER GOT COLD. I HAD IT RUNNING FOR 20 MINUTES BUT IT NEVER GOT COLD. THE NEXT DAY CALLED AND TOOK THE CAR TO BE CHECKED OUT, THEY KEPT IT TWO DAYS AND HAD ME COME PICK IT UP SAYING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INVESTIGATE. THE NEXT DAY I GOT A CALL FROM FAIRFIELD FORD SAYING THAT THERE WAS A OBJECT IN THE A/C AND NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY! WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY IT WAS STILL COLD WEATHER SO NEVER TURNED ON THE A/C WHEN I DID THE TEST DRIVE, NEVER WOULD THINK THAT A ALMOST NEW CAR THAT IS PRE-OWNED WOULD HAVE A BAD A/C SYSTEM!! I TRULY THINK THE A/C WAS BAD AND THEY KNEW IT PRIOR TO SELLING THE CAR TO ME. NOW HAVING SQUEAKS WHEN I BACK OUT MY GARAGE IN THE MORNINGS, RECENTLY HAD IT CHECKED AND THE SAY MY BACK DRUMS ARE NO LONGER ROUND AND NEED TO BE RESURFACED OR REPLACED!! ONLY HAVE HAD THIS CAR 6 WKS NOW AND SO FAR HAVE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT, HAVE NOTIFIED THE BBB ABOUT THE A/C, GUESS NOW HAVE TO CONTACT THEM ABOUT THE BRAKES TOO.! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396867

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE REAR ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT HER, THE ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE REAR ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT HER, THE ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10344956

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.